Fission-track dating

Fission-track dating is a method used to determine the age of rocks and minerals by counting tiny damage trails, called fission tracks, left by the spontaneous breakup of uranium atoms within the material. When uranium decays, it produces these tracks in minerals like zircon or apatite. By measuring the number of tracks and knowing the rate at which uranium decays, scientists can calculate how long ago the mineral formed. This technique helps scientists understand geological events over millions of years, such as the cooling of rocks or the timing of volcanic activity.